New blood and familiar faces to power Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup defence

On the two year anniversary that they won the America’s Cup in Bermuda, Emirates Team New Zealand have announced their sailing team lineup that will power their AC75 when it hits the water later this winter.

It is a mix of familiar faces and new blood as the team continues to think outside the square by looking for the most suitable athletes to fill the intensely physical and technically demanding roles onboard the boat.

“We have a really interesting mix of sailors making up the Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team for the AC36,” said Emirates Team New Zealand COO Kevin Shoebridge.

“As we have always seen, a cohesive mix of both sailing talent and raw power is a fundamental piece of the puzzle to success on the water. We saw this in Bermuda and will no doubt see it again in Auckland.”

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A number of the familiar faces that were onboard the America’s Cup winning crew as ‘cyclors’ in Bermuda are back again by making a successful transition back from the leg powered cycling system which has now been outlawed within the Class Rule for the 36^th America’s Cup.

Returning to the team are:

• Andy Maloney (Kerikeri)
• Carlo Huisman (The Netherlands)
• Guy Endean (Auckland)
• Joe Sullivan (Picton)
• Josh Junior (Wellington)
• Simon van Velthooven (Palmerston North)

“There wasn’t an easy road into this group for anyone in the sailing team. They all effectively had to prove themselves again. And it has been really encouraging to see the hunger from the guys who were with us last time to return for the defence on home waters in New Zealand,” said Shoebridge.

The new names to join Emirates Team New Zealand come from a varied background.

Emirates Team New Zealand Head of Physical Performance Dan Plews and Strength and Conditioning specialist Adam Storey will oversee the physical training and development of the sailing team towards the 36^th America’s Cup Match in March 2021

“Grinding on the AC75’s is a going to be a massively physically demanding role for grinders during racing. Having put all of these guys through some pretty brutal testing sessions we are pretty impressed with their natural ability, but also the extent they will go through to push their bodies to the limit,” said Plews.

The other remaining positions onboard will be covered by existing Emirates Team New Zealand sailors Glenn Ashby, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke and Ray Davies.